How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 144 Oh no! Someone has discovered a bug in the "Island Occupation and Kingship" system! (Fourth update)

The newly established Imperial Censorate of the Coast Guard in Quanzhou Prefecture had copper nails on its vermilion gate that gleamed in the sun and were hot to the touch. Inside the main hall, there were ice basins emitting wisps of cool air, but it didn't make things much cooler.

Fujian Governor Xiong Wencan, dressed in a thin casual robe, leaned back in his armchair, half-closing his eyes and resting. Coastal Inspector Zhou Yingqiu, on the other hand, was dressed in a neat blue official robe, sitting at the lower end of the table with his back ramrod straight and fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

The flower hall was quiet, with only the incessant chirping of cicadas in the trees outside.

A series of boot clattering sounds approached from afar. The provincial governor's guard at the door lifted the bamboo curtain, and a wiry man strode in. He was around thirty years old, with dark skin, piercingly bright eyes, and wearing a silk shirt. His back was ramrod straight; he was Zheng Zhilong's fifth brother, Zheng Zhibao.

Zheng Zhibao entered the hall, his gaze first sweeping over Zhou Yingqiu before landing on Xiong Wencan. He clasped his hands in a salute and said in a loud voice, "The Governor summoned me; what brings you here?"

He was very warm towards Xiong Wencan, but he treated Zhou Yingqiu, the newly arrived imperial censor from the capital, as if they were meeting for the first time and barely paid him any attention.

Xiong Wencan chuckled and gestured slightly, "Oh, it's Brother Zheng Wu. Please sit down and have some tea." His tone was relaxed, as if he were chatting with a family. "This is Imperial Censor Zhou, a close advisor to the Emperor. This inspection tour of the sea is of great importance to the court."

Zhou Yingqiu nodded slightly, as if to say hello.

Zheng Zhibao didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down on a chair at the lower end of the table, took the cold tea offered by the servant, gulped down half a bowl, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and said, "My lord, Censor Zhou, we ship sailors prefer to be straightforward. Whatever the court's regulations are, let them be. As long as the price is fair, my Zheng family will provide the men and the ships without a second thought!"

His words were delivered with a strong, unyielding spirit, reminiscent of a powerful maritime figure.

Zhou Yingqiu frowned, seemingly displeased with such directness. He cleared his throat and said, "Chief Zheng is a man of few words. His Majesty knows of Zheng Yiguan's loyalty and bravery and intends to reward him. Perhaps he could be granted the titles of Vice Commander-in-Chief and Naval Vice Admiral, and your father could also be posthumously honored..."

“A lieutenant general?” Zheng Zhibao scoffed, interrupting Zhou Yingqiu. He turned to Xiong Wencan, a half-smile on his face: “Governor, in the sea, might makes right. The title of lieutenant general won’t scare the Japanese devils or Liu Xiang’s gang. If the court wants our real money with such ‘special favors,’ they should save their breath.”

His disdain was completely undisguised.

Zhou Yingqiu's face darkened, and he was about to explode.

Xiong Wencan waved his hand, still smiling. He put down the jade walnut he was playing with, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice: "Fifth Brother, please calm down. Imperial Censor Zhou hasn't finished speaking. How can His Majesty's grace be compared to that of a mere military officer?"

He glanced at Zhou Yingqiu. Zhou Yingqiu understood, took a breath, and said, word by word, "His Majesty has another decree: if Zheng Yiguan is truly willing to pay a high price, there is currently an opportunity for him to be granted the title of Prince... This is a hereditary title!"

"Prince?" Zheng Zhibao was taken aback at first, then suddenly stood up from his chair, his face full of astonishment—the kind of astonishment that comes from "even a great pirate like me can encounter a swindler."

He glared at Zhou Yingqiu, then at Xiong Wencan, and after a long while, it was as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Governor! Censor Zhou! Are you making fun of me, Zheng Zhibao?"

His voice suddenly rose, filled with anger: "When has the Ming Dynasty ever bestowed a title upon a lively, non-royal prince? You civil officials would be the first to object! What's the point of such empty talk? Are you trying to trick my Zheng family into going bankrupt to fill that bottomless pit in Liaodong?"

Xiong Wencan's smile faded slightly. He gently tapped the coffee table: "Zheng Wu, be careful with your words. His Majesty's words are law, not child's play. This is an extraordinary time, requiring extraordinary measures. His Majesty is a young emperor with ambitions to conquer the world; how can a pedantic person fathom his wisdom?"

Zhou Yingqiu took over the conversation, his tone becoming serious: "Chief Zheng, His Majesty's grace is boundless, but it also has its own laws. This 'King' title is not bestowed upon you, Zheng, out of thin air. Moreover, it does not violate the ancestral rules of the Ming Dynasty."

He stood up and walked to a simple nautical chart hanging in the hall, pointing to a spot below the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula: "This is Jeju Island, a part of Korea. Now, Korea is being pressured by the Eastern barbarians, and its national power is declining. Your Majesty is benevolent and wishes to save it from this dire situation. However, the court is short of funds and facing difficulties in providing provisions, so it is truly unable to send out many troops... I'm afraid Korea is doomed! To save the nation, selling some remote and desolate islands is a last resort."

He turned around and stared at Zheng Zhibao: "His Majesty's intention is for your Zheng family to fund the 'purchase' of this island from Korea. In name, it is to help Korea resist the invaders. Once your Zheng family obtains this island, you will, as the 'island owners,' admire the majesty of the Celestial Empire, and submit the entire island to the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhou Yingqiu explained in detail: "At that time, your Zheng family will be a vassal state beyond the borders, with all the land under your control! His Majesty, mindful of your righteousness in coming to submit, bestows upon you the title of Prince, to demonstrate His Majesty's virtue and to encourage future generations. This is a great policy of the Son of Heaven to pacify distant lands. If any treacherous official dares to use this to criticize ancestral rules, he is obstructing His Majesty's display of power overseas, and his heart deserves to be punished!"

This rhetoric linked "buying the island" with "annexing the mainland," attempting to circumvent the old rule that "those of different surnames cannot rule as kings."

Zheng Zhibao frowned as he listened, his mind racing. This explanation... it seemed plausible?

Just then, Xiong Wencan added seemingly casually, his voice low but striking Zheng Zhibao's heart like a hammer blow: "Oh, right. After Imperial Censor Zhou left the capital, His Majesty also sent someone south to Guangdong to inform that 'fragrant man.' Hehe, the highest bidder wins, and the virtuous reside there, after all."

"Liu Xiang?!" Zheng Zhibao exclaimed, his anger instantly turning into fury. Liu Xiang was his family's mortal enemy. If this person were to seize Jeju Island, which was blocking the Japanese shipping route, the Zheng family's maritime empire would be in serious trouble!

Emperor Chongzhen's move was not just an attempt to entice, but a blatant act of coercion! He was forcing the Zheng and Liu families to raise the price exorbitantly!
He could no longer sit still and abruptly clasped his hands in a fist: "Governor! Censor Zhou! This matter is of great importance. Zhi Bao is just a rough man and cannot make the decision! We must immediately report back to my elder brother for a decision!"

Xiong Wencan nodded, and said meaningfully, "That's how it should be. Zhibao, tell an official that this is a golden opportunity, and time waits for no one. His Majesty awaits your 'loyalty and righteousness'."

Zheng Zhibao said nothing more, gave a hasty bow, and strode away.

Watching him disappear through the door, Zhou Yingqiu turned to Xiong Wencan and whispered, "Prefect Xiong, what do you think of the Zheng family..."

Xiong Wencan picked up the jade walnut again, slowly turning it over, a shrewd smile on his face: "Don't worry, the bait has been laid, he has no choice but to take the bait."

.........

Anping Port, night.

In the secret chamber at the top of Zhengjiabao Village, only a few oil lamps were lit. The flames flickered, casting long shadows on the cold, hard stone walls.

Zheng Zhibao recounted his experience at the Quanzhou government office in one breath, especially uttering the words "Prince" and "Liu Xiang" through gritted teeth.

"Bang!" Hong Xu slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair and stood up abruptly. "Good heavens! A prince? Is the court so desperate for money that they're trying to swindle us out of our real gold and silver by drawing a picture of a giant turtle? Do they want to trick us into fighting the Tartars? That's a bottomless pit!"

Shi Daxuan frowned, staring at the nautical chart of the East on the table: "Brother, this is a risky business. Putting aside whether the court's word is law, Jeju Island is isolated overseas. Taking it would require stationing troops and developing it, costing a fortune. We also have to guard against the Tartars from Liaodong reaching out. This deal looks like a losing proposition no matter how you look at it."

Zheng Cai said worriedly, "I'm afraid the court will use this as an excuse to transfer our ships and people to Liaodong and Korea to help, leaving us stuck in that quagmire. Then..."

Several pairs of eyes were fixed on Zheng Zhilong and Yang Tiansheng, who had remained silent.

Yang Tiansheng was in his fifties, with a goatee and shrewd eyes. He coughed lightly and tapped the table with his knuckles.

"Brothers, the court's 'buying an island and bestowing a title of king' sounds like a golden road, but if you think about it carefully, it's full of holes." He looked at Zheng Zhilong, "Elder brother, Zhou Yingqiu's rhetoric, 'buying an island - submitting - bestowing a title of king,' sounds like it's circumventing the ancestral rule that 'those of different surnames cannot be kings,' and using the title of 'foreign vassal chieftains submitting' to bestow titles. It might be able to shut up the civil officials for now."

He changed the subject, his tone turning serious: "But have you all thought about this? What does opening this door mean? It means that anyone with a bit of influence at sea can use this formula to get medicine! How many deserted islands larger than Jeju Island are there in this vast ocean? Luzon, Borneo, Java... there must be dozens, right?"

He looked around at the crowd: "The heroes of the sea are not just us and Xiang Lao. Li Kuiqi's old men, Zhong Bin's remnants, and all those big and small boat owners in Guangdong and Zhejiang, who doesn't want to go ashore and become a prince? Today we buy Jeju Island and are made princes, tomorrow Zhang San and Li Si occupy Luzon or Borneo and come to Beijing to 'admire righteousness and assimilate,' begging for a princeship. Will the court grant them one or not?"

Hong Xu glared: "They wouldn't dare! What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry!"

Yang Tiansheng sneered: "They may not dare to do it openly, but can they accept it in their hearts? Can those upright officials who dare to speak out be content? Right now, they are being suppressed by the big label of 'spreading prestige overseas,' but once this wind passes, someone will definitely jump out and curse: 'You can be made a king just by occupying an island overseas? The title of Prince of the Ming Dynasty is too worthless! Where is the dignity of the nation?' At that time, our title of 'Prince of Jizhou' will be the first to be rotten, the one sticking out the nail! When the Emperor can't withstand the pressure, will my elder brother still be able to keep his title?"

He said emphatically, "It's like doing business. Only unique products are valuable. If something is everywhere, even the best things are worthless. We may seem to be getting a bargain now, but behind this bargain lies the great danger of being attacked by everyone in the future!"

The room fell silent. Hong Xu and the others nodded repeatedly, agreeing with the strategist's reasoning. Even Zheng Zhilong frowned slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the armchair.

Shi Daxuan took a breath: "The strategist is saying... this prince position is attainable, but it's a hot potato?"

Zheng Cai also said, "If the court goes back on its word later, or is forced to retract its decision by the censors, won't my elder brother lose both his money and his reputation?"

Yang Tiansheng nodded: "That's exactly right. So we can't just be blinded by the title of prince; we have to look at the long term."

(End of this chapter)